Emotional Intelligence and the Occupational Therapist

Abstract

Mayer and Salovey (1997) have described emotional intelligence as the understanding, perception, use and management of emotions of self and others. Emotional intelligence skills mediate emotional labour and support development of professional and therapeutic relationships, fostering the application of person-centred, holistic principles (McKenna 2007). The occupational therapist's ability to understand, mediate and manage the emotions of self and others undoubtedly has an impact on their effectiveness (Mayer and Cobb 2000), and on their ability to engage with service users, carers, colleagues and students. This opinion piece explores links between ability in emotional intelligence and the competent occupational therapist.